Worcester school awarded for having a ‘good’ School Travel Plan
A new scheme is encouraging pupils to walk, wheel, cycle or scoot to school.
Worcester schools are being urged to join a scheme which encourages pupils to walk, wheel, cycle or scoot to school.
Parents and teachers are being asked to help reduce carbon emissions around schools by leaving their car at home and use greener travel methods.
Funded by Worcestershire County Council the scheme awards schools with certificates for their Travel Plans and increasing the number of their pupils who regularly walk, wheel, cycle or use other forms of sustainable transport on their journey to school.
St George’s CofE Primary School have already joined the Modeshift STARS scheme and have been awarded a certificate for having a ‘good’ School Travel Plan.
Measures introduced by Worcestershire County Council at the school include parking restrictions on Henry Street and St George’s Lane North - to help improve the safety outside the school.
Louise Norris, Headteacher at St George’s CofE Primary School said:
“We were very aware of the high level of traffic congestion around the school and wanted to encourage pupils to be more physically active.
“The school travel plan has been focused on achieving these aims. We really appreciate the hard work of Councillor Hannah Cooper in supporting us and leading the project forward.
“We are especially proud to be the first school in Worcester to have this recognition.”
Councillor Lynn Denham, Worcester City Council Leader, said:
“It’s brilliant to see St George’s CE Primary School taking part in this initiative and we would love to see other schools produce similar School Travel Plans.
“These measures will help to reduce traffic and emissions outside schools and across our city.
“The scheme provides a positive step towards healthier lives for our children.
“I would encourage parents and schools to work together to develop sustainable travel options for their children"
The scheme not only helps improve both physical and mental health, along with reducing air pollution and traffic congestion but supports Worcester City Council’s Air Quality Action Plan which aims to reduce emissions from traffic, improve public health and wellbeing, increase uptake of sustainable travel options and plan for future development.
Schools can find out more about the Modeshift STARS scheme here.